The Ju-87 is the quintessential German WWII aircraft. The Stuka, which is short for Sturzkampfflugzeug (dive bomber),served with distinction in almost every theatre. It was one of the keys to the early victories of the Wehrmact in Poland, France, the Low ries and around the mediterranean.

In the Blitzkreig of Poland in 1939 and the early 1940's offensive operations, it acted as mobile artillery ahead of the wehrmact's fast moving armoured troops. With its screaming dive siren, the stuka spread fear amongst troops on the recieving end of its attacks. The aircraft's lines were quite unique with inverted gull wings and an angular and aggressive appearing fuselage.

Almost 6000 were produced, and they were used from North Africa to the coasts of England, and from Norway to the Russian steppes. They also saw service during the Spanish Revolution.

By the end of 1940 the Stuka was essentially obsolescent, however, the development of new ground attack aircraft was proceeding very slowly, the Germans began developing an improved version of the Stuka. The D version, also known as the Dora mated the proven Stuka airframe to an upgraded engine, increased the range and upgraded the armour.

The Dora version, saw extensive service on every front of the German war effort. Hans Rudel, the most decorated German pilot of WWII flew a Dora. Rudel used the Stuka to sink a WWI era Russian battleship in Leningrad harbour. By February 1945, Rudel had flown over 1800 sorties, and destroyed over 202 tanks with his Stuka before being badly wounded after being hit by 40mm anti-aircraft fire. His life was saved by his observer, but his right leg had to be amputated. Amazingly, he returned to service and destroyed 26 more tanks before surrendering to US forces in May 1945. By the end of the war he had flown 2530 sorties and destroyed 2000 ground targets, sunk a battleship, 2 cruisers and a destroyer. He ended the war as the most decorated German pilot of all time, and compiled a world record for most operational sorties by any pilot. His skills were later influential in the development of the A-10 Warthog II by the US military in the 1970's. Without his trusty Stuka, Rudel would never have achieved his remarkable career.